To the Canon owners out there, I'm an amateur with $600 max to spend on a zoom lens and am trying to decide between the 2 listed in the subject. Both cost about $580, have good reviews on fredmiranda.com and I see pros/cons for each:
The 70-300 has image stabilization and of course an extra 100 mm.
The 70-200 in an L lens, and is f/4.
Any owners of these lenses out there with some wake feedback for me? I know it would be ideal to drop to f/2.8, but >$1000 isn't in the cards right now.
I'm open to other lenses, but these seem to fit my needs/price requirements.
I have the 70-200 f/4. It works rather well with my setup (17-40mm, 28-70mm) for the zoom end. In regards to wakeboarding, the 200mm zooms in almost perfectly to frame a rider without any extra space (depends on rider size & rope length).
I'd get get L glass, but I'm somewhat of a camera snob...
Loren ~ I don't have either, but I'm with Matt on this one. Get the 70-200 f4. The L glass is so amazing and I've heard nothing but GREAT things about this lens. I have the f2.8 version and I love it. It's pretty much the only lens I use for wakeboarding.
I have owned both. The new 70-300 has darn good IQ (as good as the 70-200 IMHO) and of course IS is great when you need it. The build of the 70-300 isn't the greatest though and it's known to have issues shooting portrait at 300mm due to a loose lens barrel.
If you're main interest is shooting wakeboarding then I would go with the 70-200. The 70-300 is a more versatle all around lens for travel etc. The 70-200 works well with a 1.4 TC (other then handholding it) while the 70-300 with a TC isn't that great. If the IQ wasn't so close between the two it would be a no brainer to get the 70-200.
Thanks for all the input guys. I ordered the 70-200 f/4 today There was no way I could go against 3 of Wakeworld's photo gurus (sorry Matt, haven't seen your work yet
I'll post once I get some shots worthy of the lens.